Events during the Olympic Games often spark diverse reactions in the sports world. This time, the focus is on Ukraine, with athletes expressing both support and protest.
Redaksiya reports that a noisy and infuriating scandal related to Ukraine has occurred at these Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee banned Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladislav Heraskevych from competing because the athlete wanted to appear with a "memory helmet" bearing the names of athletes who died as a result of the war. Furthermore, the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected his claim against the International Olympic Committee.
At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, former American figure skater is working not as an athlete, but as an analyst and commentator for NBC Olympics' figure skating broadcasts. He posted a video on his Instagram blog in a Ukrainian "vyshyvanka" to the song "Oy na hori" by Artem Pivovarov.
It should be noted that Johnny Weir is not supporting Ukrainians for the first time. In February 2024, the athlete wore Ukrainian attire and called for help for Ukraine in its war against Russia's invading army.
Johnny Weir, a three-time U.S. figure skating champion and a bronze medalist at the 2008 World Figure Skating Championships, has expressed his support for Ukraine during the Olympic Games.
"I sit and knit, I don't bother anyone. I was proud to wear a 'vyshyvanka' in Milan," Weir stated.